Wednesday, December 30, 2015

This cool Neo-Gothic building was built in 1925 for General Motors as the McLaughlin Motor Company Showroom and it continued to be a car showroom until 2007. It has heritage designation so the structure itself has become a restaurant with a condo building rising from the former parking lot.Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

The Three Little Pigs seem to make an appearance every year at the Santa Claus Parade and this year they had nice warm sun to work in. Construction seems to have been going well at this point before the wolf arrived!

Friday, December 25, 2015

The last float in the Santa Claus Parade before Santa's Sleigh is Mrs Claus's dining room where the elves and Santa will be treated to a fine meal after all their work on Christmas night. The Santa float isn't the same without him so I didn't get a shot of it! Merry Christmas to all of you - hope you were all good and got what you wanted in your stockings.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

The Mad Hatter served pizza on this float from the Santa Claus Parade which was sponsored by Pizza Pizza. There will have been a few little kiddies riding along on those little silver stools when the parade began.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

These fine chickens were found on the fence on the Maple Lodge Farms (a supplier of chicken products) sponsored float at the Santa Claus Parade. I don't think they are in any danger of becoming part of the company product line. I really liked this float with the great red barn!Taking part in Good Fences. Click HERE to see more fences from around the world.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

This is the Santa Claus Parade float sponsored by Tim Horton's which is the iconic coffee & doughnut stop for Canadians who drink coffee. (I don't.) I do love the Christmas sweaters that the creatures are wearing!

Sunday, December 20, 2015

The Thomas the Train float was waiting for its little load of passengers who will sit on those little stools beside the #1 train. I'm sure it was a popular float with the kids along the route of the Santa Claus Parade as it wound its way downtown.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Our Annual Santa Claus Parade took place a few weeks ago on a day that was very pleasant for the little kiddies to be sitting out for hours to watch it. One of my favourite floats was this one for the new Disney pic "The Good Dinosaur". And Christie Pits Park makes a great background it. I go down to the staging area on Bloor St several hours before the parade begins to get close-up shots of the floats but during the actual parade there will be kids in costume sitting on all the floats.

Friday, December 18, 2015

I spotted this vintage ambulance on Bloor St just before the Santa Claus Parade began so I think it was going to be part of the leadoff for the event. Elegant isn't it? I have lots of pics from the parade which I will show you over the next couple of weeks.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

This house is on Queen's Park and was originally a private home when built but is now part of St Michael's College at U of Toronto and is used for offices. You can see yesterday's carving to the right of that fabulous turret. I love the little balcony above the corner turret. And that very old little fence.Taking part in Good Fences. Click HERE to see more fences from around the world.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Another laneway find, I really like this flower which seems to be a group effort by several artists since I found a lot of signatures on it! A nice sight to drive by when you are arriving home! Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

This shot was taken from a 12th floor room in the north end of the city about 10 miles from the downtown skyline. The sun had come out for a few minutes just enough to highlight the steam from the downtown towers but the top of the CNTower is still in the clouds.My dad is still in the hospital and so I have been unable to visit any blogs much. The shot was taken from his room.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

This little parkette in the foreground is being constructed on the site of the old Women's College Hospital and those arches are supporting a few of the old sculpted windows from the original building. The large building on the left is the new hospital and the other buildings are condos and office towers in the financial district. I have to go back when the park is finished for some shots but I like that they are retaining a bit of the history of the site.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

I showed you this sculpture back in 2010 but thought I would try for new image with different lighting. You can see the other one if you click on the McElcheron label below. It is one of many from William McElcheran's Businessman series.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

This very old coach house is located behind the library at St Michael's College at U of Toronto but from this direction it looks to be surrounded by condo towers which are going up all over the downtown area of the city. It is being used for something but I couldn't tell what and most of the windows have been closed in.

Saturday, December 5, 2015

This black squirrel had been digging about beneath this bush until I came along and then climbed up and gave me a dirty look from behind its dirty nose. There are a lot of chubby squirrels around so winter must be close to hitting us!

Friday, December 4, 2015

If you walk through the opening beside yesterday's gate you enter Philosopher's Walk and this is a shot from half way down the walk looking back up to the entrance on Bloor St. The walk follows the route of the now buried Taddle Creek as it winds its way through the U Of Toronto campus between the Faculty of Music and Trinity College. I showed you a pic of the walk when the trees were green back in September of 2010 (HERE). And yet more condos are under construction as you can see by the crane!

Thursday, December 3, 2015

This fence is located on Bloor St at the entrance into Philosophers Walk which I will show you tomorrow. In the background you can see the "Crystal" addition to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) which I have shown you several times. The fence itself is said to be from the early 1900s.Taking part in Good Fences. Click HERE to see more fences from around the world.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

I'm not sure if you have neighbourhood watch signs in your area but ours usually have little houses in the middle of the sign and not Xena The Princess Warrior! This is obviously a safe neighbourhhod with the protector of those who are unable to defend themselves on duty. That is the kind of innocent mischief I love. Bravo to someone!Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

The December theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is Shop Window and my contribution is this elegant window from Holt Renfrew, an upscale store on Bloor St. All the supplies are there for gift wrapping Christmas presents and the 2 mannequins on the right are actually revolving on the rolls of ribbon. It is hard to take a window pic without a reflection especially on a sunny day.Taking part in the theme day. Click HERE to see more shop windows from around the world.